Rotary valve mechanism



Feb.21,1928. 1,660,166-

J. EfHULSE ROTARY VALVE MECHANISM Filed June e. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

ATTORNEY J. E. HULSE ROTARY VALVE MECHANISM Feb. 21, .1928.

Filed June 6, 1927 2 Sheets-SheetZ HI M l wmllil ltllm h Mr Patented Feb. 21 1928; I v I i UN-ITEDASTATESPATENT orrlcn JAMES E. HULSE, F OXFORD, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-SIXTH TO JOHN v.IEIEN'RY NELl IIS, ONE-SIXTHTO ALBERT HENRY TAYLOR, AND ONE-SIXTH TO RUS- SELL CARROLL PAIR-HAM, ALL OF OXFORD, NORTH CAROLINA.

ROTARY VALVE mncrmnism.

Application filed June 6, 1927. Serial No. 196,898.

This invention relates to, certain improvenism of the foregoing broad, generic types, 55 -ments in rotary valve mechanisms; and the in which the above referred to problems, nature and objects of the invention will be difiiculties, and disadvantages, from among readily recognized and understood by those various others, are substantially eliminated skilled in the arts involved in the light of and practically overcome, in a mechanically the following explanation and detailed deefiicient and structurally simple manner. no scription of the accompanying drawings A further object of the invention is to proil'lustrating what I at present consider to be vide effective and eflicient sealing means for the preferred ebodiments or mechanical ex- 'a rotary valve member, or shaft by which l0 pressionsof my invention from among varih1g h compression and high speed can be ous other forms, arrangements, combinations malntalned and developed in a motor on, and constructions of which the invention is through the medium of sealing means which capable within the s irit and scope thereof. is so designed and arranged as to continu- More specifically t e invention deals with ously and automatically maintain sealing and is directed to the practical elimination of position, while employing or utilizing the certain difiiculties and the overcoming of compression developed in the motor cylcertain serious problems and disadvantages lndeI'S 0n the compression strokes thereof to inherent i d e t r d ith tho e increase the sealing effect at such cylinders, broad, general types of rotary valves for inrespectively, to prevent loss or leakage, and

20 ternal combustion motors, characterized by in which the effect of intake or suction a rotary valve forming member or shaft havstrokes tending to unseal such means is neuing a series of ports or passages therethrough tralized or ofiset, so that in all positions and for cooperation with the motor cylinder under all conditions 0f motor operation an ports, by timed rotation of the valve memefi'ective seal is maintained for the valve 25 her from the motor, to register or aline the member and the motor cylinders.

4 valve passages with the cylinder ports in the Another objectof the invention is to prorequired-sequence or order, and per it su vide a design and arrangement of sealing ply of fuel charges to and discharge or exmeans for rotary valve mechanisms for an haust from the cylinders through the valve internal combustion motor, in which indemember ports or passages. With these genpendent sealing units are provided for the oral types or rotary valves,.among the main rotary valve shaft or member at each cylinproblems and difficulties encountered in operder of the motor so as to maintain an effecation and use, are those of effectively and tive seal for each cylinder under the particuractically sealing the rotary valve member in conditions there encountered, irrespecor shaft with its passages and the motor cyltive of the conditions at other cylindersand inders with their ports, against leakage and which sealing units are interchangeable for loss of compression, as well as sealing ease of assembly and disassembly, as well as against entry and mixing of lubricating oil to reduce cost of manufacture. for the valve member to and with the fuel Another object of the invention resides in 40 charges on intake strokes, and against disthe provision of a sealing unit for a rotary charge and dissipation of oil on exhaust valve member or shaft of an internal com- 9 strokes of the motor; positively sealing the bustion motor, which is formed with resilivalve member under any and all conditions ent pressure means for continuously autoto which subjected in operation occasioned matically maintaining the unit in sea-ling 45 by temperature changes, unequal expansion relation with the valve shaft or member,

' and contraction in the member, and such like nd in which prov1s1on is made for utilizing 10o variable conditions, without binding, freezcylinder compression for increaslng the sealing or breakage and without -material fricmg e t of the mm 9 p n r k tion; positively and efiicieial lubricating the 1 a l t the aetlon of e on m sly so valve member and sealing means; and eflfecg 113811161111 Pressure meanstively cooling the valve member and sealing A further object of the invention is to promeans under all conditionsof operation. v de n improved and eificient arrangement A eneral object of the present invention, and formation of the intake and exhaust therefore, is to provide a rotary valve mechapassages or ports in and through the rotary valve member or shaft, so that only a single port is required for both intake and exhaust in each cylinder, as well as a single passage through each sealing unit for cooperation therewith, and by which arrangement of value member passages the number of sealing units required in multiple cylinder motors can be reduced through the utilization of single sealing unit t rough which the intake can be supplied to the valve member for either of a pairof cylinders, and a single sealing unit through which the exhaust from either of a pair of cylinders can be received from and through the valve member.

A further object of the invention is to so design the inlet and exhaust passages through and in the valve member that .on the intake strokes the cylinder ports are gradually opened and quickly or abruptly closed while on the exhaust strokes the cylinder ports are abruptly or quickly opened and gradually closed, so as to obtain the proper fuel charges on the intake strokes and complete discharge and scavenging of the cylinders on exhaust strokes, with resulting material increase in the general efficiency of a motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the positive and efiicient lubrication .of the rotary vah'e member or shaft with its bearings, and for the sealing means, through the medium of a force'feed lubrication system by which lubricant is supplied in the proper quantities and continuously to all bearing and friction surfaces of the valve member. \a

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a water jacketed casing or housing for the rotary valve member and the sealing means to maintain the same at the proper temperature for efficient operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary valve mechanism adapted for any and all types of internal combustion motors, which mechanism will be quiet and efficient at all motor speeds, durable in operation and use, readily accessible for repair or replacement of parts, and ofa design and construction capable of ready manufacture at low cost.

With the foregoing neral objects, and certain other aims and oia'ects in view which will be readily apparent from the following explanation, the invention consists in certain novel features in construction, and in combinations and arrangements ofparts, as will be more fully and particularly referred to and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters refer o corresponding parts throughout the several figures thereof: i

Fig. 1, is a view'in perspective and'more or less diagrammatical, of an internal combustion motor with a rotary valve mecha- -design of motor having a nismembodying features of the invention I mounted thereon and incorporated therein.

Fig. '2, is a vertical longitudinal section through the cylinders and head of the motor of Fig. 1, and showing the rotary valve mem 7o cating system for the sealing units and valve member bearings.

Fig. 4, is a detail vertical section through a portion of the valve mechanism and a cylinder head, showing the position of an intake passage of the valve member in position between and registered with the inner and outer sealin umts for supplying a fuel charge to the cy ing shown in vertical section.

Fig. 5, is a detail transverse section through the valve member and a ortion of asealing unit to show a valve mem er passage in registration and operative communication with the sealing un1t.'

Fig. 6, is a detail perspective view of the driven end {portion of the rotary valve member or sha showing the relative arrangement of exhaust and intake passages therein and therethrough.

Flg. 7, is a perspective view of one of the valve member sealing units, showing the'arrangement of oil feed ducts therein and the mounting of the pressure spring on and between the relative y movable sleeves forming the unit.

A mechanical embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings as mounted on and incorporated with an in-. ternal combustion motor of the two-cylinder valve-in-head type, but the type of motor diagrammatically shown, are purely by way of example and not of limitation, for purposes of explaining and bringing forth the principles and various features adapted to use on and with any type and single, or any number of cylinders, and is capable of any desired or called for mechanical form and arrangement to meet the design, constructional and operating requirements of the particular motor with which it is used, as will be clear to those familiar with internal combustion motors.

' In the example hereof, referring now to 125 the drawings in particular,

Fig. 3, is a view in top plan of the motor 75 inder, the sealing units be- Y this embodiment and I" of the invention. The invention is therein see Fig. 2), no

is shown. Each of the cylinders A and B of motor M is provided or formed with a port through the head thereof, in the present instance centrally of the cylinder, and a water jacketed valve casing or housing formed of the horizontal, longitudinally separable upper and lower sections 11 and 12,

'* extending nism therein, which will be described here-'- inafter. Although not so limited, the cylinder water jacket and that of the casing, 1112, are in communication, with the cooled .water or return flow ipe 15 discharging into the cylinder jac t at a side of motor M, and the heated water or offt'ake pipe 16 located at and receiving water from one end of the upper casing section 11, pipes 15 and 16 being coupled with any suitable radiator (not shown) or the like in the usual manner.

According to the invention, a rotary valve member or shaft 20 is mounted and enclosed within the casing 11-12 disposed longitudinally thereof over and across the cylinders A and B, for rotation on and around a horizontal axis, as willbe particularly clear by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings. The valve member or shaft 20 is of the solid type and is journalled in any suitable or desired main bearings 21 disposed at and adjacent theends thereof, and at intermediate portions thereof, respectively, the intermediate bearings preferably being of the thrust type to care for end play or thrust in shaft 20. The interior of the upper and lower casing sections'll and 12, is formed and designed to fit closely over and around the valve shaft 20, but without'contact or engagement therewith, so as to form and provide an enclosing water acket for cooling and maintaining the valve member or shaft at the proper temperatures during operation,

while permitting free'rotation oft-he shaft in the .main bearings 21.

The rotary valve shaft 20, is driven or rotated by and in timed relation with the motor M, in the present instance although not so limited,'from the forwardend of the motor crankshaft. In the example hereof a stub shaft 22, referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, is provided extending from the forward. .end of valve shaft 20-,

outwardly a distance through suitable bearings in the casin sections 11 12. A pinion 23 is fixed out with the lower section 12 formed with e outer end of stub shaft 22, in mesh with a pinion 24 fixed on a vertically disposed shaft 25 carried by and journalled in bearings 26 mounted on motor M. The shaft 25 extends downwardly to the forwardly extended end of the motor crankshaft S and is provided with a pinion 27 in operative mesh with a pinion 28 on the crankshaft-(see Fig. 1). Thus, through and the exhaust manifold 31, for the motor- M, mounted thereon. .In .carrying out the invention on a two cylinder motor, as shown herewith by way of example, the upper valve casing section is provided with a series of three openings downwardly therethrough at and adjacent opposite ends of the valve shaft and at an intermediate or central point with respect thereto, which openings are com-- pletely covered by'the "valve shaft (see 2). Preferably'the intake and exhaust manifolds 30 and 31 are cast or otherwise formed integral with the exhaust manifold 31 extending over and along the casing section 11 and the intake manifold crossing and 3 extending around and heated from the-exhaust manifold at and above the intermediate opening through casing section 11. The exhaustm'anifo1d'31 is connected or coupled with the opposite end openings throughcasing section 11, in communication therewith, respectively, throughjthe branch pipes 31", while the intake manifoldBO is connected and in communication with the intermediate casing section opening by the end pipe 30*. The foregoing arrangement and mounting of the intake and exhaust manifolds willbe clear by reference to Figs. '1 and 2 of the drawings, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited or restricted to any particular design, constructionior at rangement of these manifolds, as various other constructions'and arrangements can bentilized.

With the valve member or shaft120 so,

mounted and disposedit is necessary to seal the same to prevent leakage of compression the upper and lower casing sections 11 and 42 at one end, and valve member engaging and sealing sleeve 43, slidably fitting over I and receiving the sleeve 41 at the end thereof opposite base 42. Valve sleeve 43 is formed witha concave outer end face 44 to closely fit against and receive the valve member or shaft 20, as will be later explained and a reduced area port 45 is formed centrally through face 44, in the example hereof being rectangular in outline or shape, although not so limited.

A. coiled expansion spring 46 is mounted over and around the fixed sleeve 41, between the base 42 thereof and the inner end of the valve sealing sleeve 43 slidably mounted on and over sleeve 41, and this spring normally tends to force the valve sleeve 43 outwardly on the sleeve 41, as will be readily understood. Bv the design and arrangement of these relatively movable sleeves 41 and 43, a chamber 47 is-formed between the end of sleeve 41 and the end wall of the movable valve sleeve 43 (see Fig. 4). The end of sleeve 41 is beveled at 48 inwardly, for a purpose appearing hereinafter, while a set of compression or sealing rin 49 are mounted in and; around the exterior of sleeve 41 adjacent the end thereof, in' engagement with the inner face or wall of valve sleeve 43, so as to form a sliding leakproof fit and seal between fixed sleeve 41 and the movable valve engaging sleeve 43. Similar rings 50 are mounted in and around the exterior of the movable sleeve 43 to serve a sealin function for this movable sleeve in mounte position, as will be referred to hereinafter.

In order to lubricate the contact or engaging face 44 of the valve seal 43 and the por-.

tion of the rotary valve shaft in enga ement therewith, a series of oil ducts 51 are ormed transversely through the end wall of sleeve 43, passingat opposite sides of port 45, and

terminating in openings 53 at opposite'sides' of the sleeve. A series of oil feed openings 52 are formed throu h the valve engagin face 44 at opposite si es of port 45, throng "which oil is supplied from duct-s 51 to the sleeve face and portion of the valve shaft engaged thereby and in contact therewith. The opposite side oil openings 53 are for registration or coupling with an oil suppl duct to permit of flow and circulation of oil therefrom and through sleeve ducts 51, as

will be further explained.

, ,A sealing unit 40, constructed as above de scribed, is mounted in each of the openings through the lower valve casing section 12,

' over and around a cylinder port 10, with the fixed sleeve 41 secured in any suitable or desired manner to the cylinder head by base i 42, and the movable sealing sleeve 43 fitting and forced against the valve member or shaft 20 by the action of the expansion spring 46, the shaft 20 fitting. into and received by the concave face 44 of movable sleeve 43 with a sealing fit. In the present example, an annular filler member or ring 54 is fitted and secured into each casing section opening around unit 40 therein with the movable valve seal 43 in enga ement and forming a sliding fit therewith, the rings 50 around sleeve 43 engaging filler member 54 and forming a leak proof, slidable fit therewith, so that the valve sleeve 43 can move freely longitudinally thereof. The rings 50 are of the split expansiontype and perform a farther function of taking up radial or lateral movement or play developed by sleeve 43in member 54 through wear or otherwise, to thus insure a leakproof fit between member 54 and the movable sleeve 43. In mounted position, the sealin units .40 at the lower or cylinder side of va ve shaft 20 form and provide passages through the sleeves forming the same, from the ports 10 to the valve shaft 20, while the rings 49 on the fixed sleeves 41 provide a leakproof sliding fit between the. sleeves, as well as caring for radial or lateral play or movement therebetween.

A series of the sealing units 40 are mounted in a generally simllar manner to that above described, in the openings through the upper casing section 11, in communication 'WIth the intake andv exhaust manifolds 30 and 31, respectively. In the mounting of the sealing units 40 in casing section 11, the fixed sleeves 41 are secured by their bases 42 on the outer ends of the casing openings with the sleeves extending or depending downwardly therethrough, and the movable valve shaft sleeves 43 thereon at the inner ends thereof bearing and forced against the valve shaft 20- by the springs 46, to maintain a sliding sealing fit with the valve shaft. In the particular construction here shown the openings through the upper section 11 of the valve casing are of a diameter such that the movable valve shaft sleeves 43 and y the passages formed through units 40, by the branch pipes 31 located adjacent the ends of the valve casing and valve shaft therein, while the intermediate or central sealing unit 40 is coupled and in communication with the intake manifold 30 through outlet pipe 30 (see Fig. 2). The passages through the upper sealing units form continuations of the exhaust manifold to points adjacent op posite ends of the valve shaft, and of' the intake manifold to a point intermediate, or centrally of the valve shaft, respectively. It

' will here be noted that by the arrangement v effects of destructively high temperatures on these units.

, The rotary valve member or shaft 20 is provided with a series of intake and exhaust passages therethrough for cooperation with the upper and lower sets of sealing units 40 and the passages therethrough, and the arrangement and form of the passages in the valve member 20 provides another main feature of the invention; With the motor M of the two cylinder, four cycle type, the valve shaft 20'is formed with a air of exhaust passages 61 and 62, and a pair of intake passages 63 and 64. The valve exhaust passages 61 and 62 extend through the valve member 20 atand adjacent the opposite ends thereof, referrin now to Fig. 2, in particular, while the inta e passages 63 and 64 are disposed spaced apart betweenor intermediate these exhaust passages. Exhaust assa e .61 is disposed or inclined at an ang e to t e longitudinal axis of the valve member 20.with'1ts.

opposite ends opening through the member at points thereon disposed within the verti-x cal planes through the ports 45 of the sleeves 43 of the lower seal unit 40 at port 10 of cyl inder A, and the upper seal unit 40=at the forward end 31 of exhaust manifold31, respectively. The exhaust passa e 62 of the valve member 20. is similarly 'sposed but inclined in the opposite direction rom pas-' sage 61,. so" that- '1ts opposite end ports or openings lie in the vertical.

with the rean exhaust manifold pipe-:31, res ctivel extending throufih t 20 at sub'stantia ,yIight angles or degrees with respect o each other and are inclined in PP 40 which is coupled, to the intake manifold 30, whil as the adjacent ends of exhaust passages '61-- and 62, respectively.

from the intake manifol 30 through upper strokes of the motor.

passages. are gradually 4 lanes of the" ports 45 of lower seal unit 40 or cylinder B, andthe upper seal unit 40 in communication 1 ber ofdegrees apart around the valve shaft he inta e passa 63and formed:

e valve member or shaft pro rly relative yosite directions to the longitudinal axi inder passe es, seas of the shaft 20-,but have theiradjacent end o' nings through the shaft in'the-yv'ertieal; p ane of the port .45 of'the upper sefalingfunit y Y and B"1n the. positions of Fig. 2,

heir oppos te end openings are disk. that cylinder A inp'osition-fo'r 3 posed on the valve shaft to be within the ,veri tical planes through'the ports 45 of the p 40 for cylinders Ajand B, respectively,Jthat:

The intake passage63" of the valve shaft 20fsu plies fuel charges cylinder intaking and then the other. By.

the foregoing arrangement of intake passages, the intake for the pair of cylinders A and B can be performed by the use of a single upper sealing unit 40 connected with intake manifold 30, such unit 40 serving both cylinders A and B, alternately through intake passages 6364.

; The exhaust passages 61 and 62, and the intake passages 63 and 64 are all rectangular i1]; cross section to accord with the shape of t e rts 45 in the valve sleeves 43, with which the valve passages are. registered and placed in communication, although the invention is not limited passages. of the motor the ends of the intake passages 63 and 64 which register with the ports 45 of the sealing units communicatin with cylinder ports 10 are enlarged and veled'or inclined inwardly at 63 and, 64', respectively, on.the advancing sides thereof so as to gradually open the same on the intake The endsof the exhaust passages 61 and 62 which register with to either the shape of. ports 45 or of the valve intake and exhaust In order to increase the efficiency I the ports 45 of the lower sealing units 40 at the cylinder ports 10, are enlarged or beveled in a similar manner, but at thetrailing or rear sides thereof, so that ports 10 and these I c osed on exhaust strokes to permit of complete discharge of the burned gases and thorough scavenging of the motor cylinders.

.The intake and exhaust located at the required distance" or numormember 20,-and each set of exhaust passage and intake assage for each cylinder is located around the valve she with. respect to 0136138610110 'motor M, a will .be readily operation of motor M, starting witht e piscoinpi'essedfuel charge, and cylinderB with isto'n B at the end of its intake stroke, the valve shaft 20 is rotated to .aposition closing assage site ends with the port 10 of cylinder B and v I passages'for each cylinder A and B of the motor M, are propthe other set .of cyl-. toobtain a four cycle is, in the same transverse. plane of the 10 with? sealillg 0 therefor,

[well as the upper unit 40 coupled with the I exhaust manifold 31, but-with the intake i 64 in position registered at its oppo 1 I to cylinder B.

the u per intake sealing unit 40, respectively, for flbw of fuel from the intake manifold Upon firing of the charge in cylinder A, iston A is forced downwardly and valve s aft 20 is rotated through/its driving mechanism to move passage 64 from communication with port 10 of cylinder B to close this cylinder and permit upwardly moving piston B to compress the fuel charge. As piston A finishes its power stroke and starts u wardly on its exhaust stroke, the valve shaft 20 has rotated to place exhaust passage 61 in communication with and between port 10 of cylinder A and the passage of upper sealing unit 40 coupled to the forward end of exhaust manifold 31, the valve shaft maintaining cylinder B closed in which the firing or power stroke is taking place. After the exhaust stroke of cylinder A, the valve shaft rotates and passage 63 is brought into position placing the upper sealing unit 40 o munication with cylinder A through the port 10, and on intake stroke of piston A a fuel charge is drawn into the motor, cylinder B exhausting through passage 62 which hasv been rotated to position opening cylinder B through port '10 to the exhaust manifold.

Cylinder piston A then moves upwardly on its com ression stroke to firing position, the

valve s aft having rotated to position closing the cylinder, while cylinder B has been closed and intake passage 64 rotated with the valve shaft 20 to position for intake of a fuel charge, thus completing the cycle.

The valve member or shaft sealing units 40, both upper and lower. are maintained in sealing position against shaft 20 at all times by the action of the expansion springs 46 which force the movable sleeves43 into constant sealin contact with thevalve shaft. Due to the formation of the chambers 47 in and between the sleeves 41 and 43 of the units 40, on compression strokes of the cylinder pistons A and B ressures are established in these chambers o the lower sealing units which are incommunication with cylinder ports 10, with the result that the movable sleeves 43 are forced by these pressures into tighter sealing engagement wlth the'valve shaft thus insuring against leakage and loss of compression. his action is aided and the pressures properly directed to the mov able sleeves 43 by the bevel 48 at the upper .ends of fixed sleeves 41, and is in addition 1 to and in aid of the continuous pressures exerted by springs 46. In a lesser degree of course this action takes place on exhaust strokes in the lower sealing units, while the construction is such that the outwardly actin pressures on exhaust strokes through the e aust assages of the upper sealing units will not orce sleeves 43 from sealing contact but if any action takes place will tend to force sleeves 43 into tighter sealing engage the intake manifold into cominent, due to the chambers 47. Similarly, on intake strokes the effect on ,movable sleeves 43 will be to force them into tighter sealing contact with the valve shaft, or at least to neutralize any tendency to. weaken the pressures exerted by springs46.

A system for lubricating the main bearings 21 and upper and lower valve shaft engaging sleeves 43 of the sealing units 40, is

provided, and is diagrammatically indicated.

from intake line through the adjacentmain bearing 21, to and through passages or ducts 51 o sealing sleeve 43, then through the intermediate main bearings 21, to the next sealing'unit sleeve 43, through the for ward end main bearing 21, and then out-- wardly to a return flow oil line 72. Oil flowing through the ducts 51 of sleeves 43 is fed to the contact faces 44 of the sleeves by ports or openings 52. Attention is here directed tothe position of the oil feed ports 52 disposed in lines at opposite sides of the ports 45 of sleeves 43 in the line .of rotation or transversely of shaft 20, so that the oil fed onto shaft 20 is not carried over and across the ports 45 and mixture thereof with incoming'fuel on registration of valve shaft intake passages 63 and 64, or dissipation of oil outwardly through the exhaust strokes, is practically eliminated. This action is materially aided by the formation of the shoulder ed es 44 at opposite sides of the concave sha t receiving faces 44 of movable sleeves 43, which edges act and function as wipers to prevent passage of sufiicient oil across ports 45 to be objectionable (see Fig. 7).

The rotary'valve mechanism and sealing means therefor, constructed and mounted as above described and explained, provides an efiicient motor operation and permits of high compression in and high speed by the motor without noise and with full utilization of the' many advanta es of the rotary type of valve. The valve mec anism is efliciently cooled by the jacketed casing formed of the upper and ower sections 11 and 12, and by remo the upper section 11, full access can be ha to the rotary valve member 20 and sealing units 40. The use of inde endent sealing units eliminates possibility of binding, freezing or sticking of the valve shaft due to unequal expansion and contraction thereof and therealong, while the em loyement of simliar and interchangeable sealing units reduces manufacturing costs and materially lowers upkeep and replacement difliculties.

Preferably, as permitted by the arrangement sealing units 40 at upper and lower (inner and outer) sides of the valve member or shaft 20, insures and provides against possibility of leakage and enables the use of high compression in the motor. The use of the expansion rings 49 between relatively movable sleeves 41 and 43 and adjacent bearing or engaging walls, provides and forms a positive leakproof ring seal in and for the sealing units 40 at the upper and lower (inner and outer) sides of the rotary valve shaft or member 20, so as that leakage between, from or through the units is eliminated.

Obviously, rotary valve mechanism of the invention is adapted for use with single cylinder motors or multiple cylinder, and in the latter the principle and arrangements disclosed in the example hereof are merely 1 multiplied in accordance with the number of cylinders.

It is also evident that variousichanges, modifications, variations and substitutions might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not desire to limit myself to the exact and specific disclosures hereof.

What I claim is:

1. A-sealing unit for a rotary valve shaft, embodying a fixed sleeve member, and a movable sleeve member slidably mounted thereon for sealing engagement with a valve shaft, said sleeve members forming a pas sage therethrough to the valve shaft.

2. A sealing unit for a rotary valve shaft,

sleeve member slidably mounted thereon for sealing engagement with a valve shaft, and means for continuously forcing said movable sleeve member into sealing engagement with the valve shaft.

3; A sealing unit for a rotary valve shaft, embodying a fixed sleeve member, a movable sleeve member slidabl and telescopically fitting over said fixed member, a coiled expansion spring around said fixed member exerting continuous pressure on and forcing said movable member outwardl said movable-member formed with a va ve shaft engaging end wall having a port therethrough, saidsleeve members forming a passage through the unit and the space between the movable member end walland the inner end of the fixed-sleeve member providing a pressure chamber.

4. In combination with an internal com-- bustion motor and a cylinder thereof having a'port therethrough, a rotary valve mechanism for the motor including a rotary valve shaft having intake and exhaust passages therethrough, a sealing unit between the motor cylinder port and said shaft providing a passage from the cylinder port to the shaft for alternate reglilsitration with said shaft passages, the said embodying a fixed sleeve member, a movable sleeve membervslidably mounted on the fixed sleeve and in continuous sealing contact with said shaft, sealing means between said sleeve members, and the said sleeve members formed with an internal chamber in communication with the passage therethrough, whereby the compression stroke in the cylinder creates pressures acting on the movable sleeve member forcing the same against the valve shaft.

Signed at Oxford, North Carolina, this 31 day of May, 1927.

. p q JAS. E. HULSE,

45 embodying a fixed sleeve member, a movable 

